Hidden Spark on Earth (TFP)

Chapter 60

Ratchet walked into the med bay with Saphira on his shoulder to find Rafael sitting by Bumblebee in the cylinder. He was talking to the bot like Bee was still awake. Saphira smiled as she knew it makes a world of difference, even if the bot can't hear Raf, it would make the boy feel good knowing he spoke to Bee. And just maybe, some of his words were getting through to the yellow bot. Ratchet saw this and sighed a little.

He was saddened for the boy, and it did seem a bit like when Saphira began reading out loud to Optimus a chapter from the Lord of the Rings. "I guess for your species, this kind of things gives you comfort," Ratchet comments, turning his head to look at Saphira. "It isn't something that we really do. But it is nice to see."

She smiled back at the medic and nodded. "It makes us feel better. Even if the other can't hear us, maybe somewhere in their minds they have at least heard the voice and know they are there. That is why we sit by someone in a coma, for example. But...doctors often say that it is good to talk to someone in a coma anyway."

Ratchet hummed softly and walked closer to the boy as Raf spoke to Bee about how he has improved his gaming against his siblings. "Rafael..." The medic said to the boy gently, getting his attention. "It is nice what you are doing, I am afraid Bumblebee may not be able to hear you while in power down mode. It's getting late, why don't I bridge you home to your family?"

Saphira looked at Ratchet in surprise, she didn't think he would send him home. "Let the kid stay, Ratchet. He's here to support Bee."

"I know that, but Bee isn't dying." Ratchet looked at the yellow bot briefly than back at Saphira. "This issue won't cause any permenant damage, Saphira." He looked down at Raf who seemed sad. "You will see, tomorrow he will be okay."

"I promised Bee that I would stay," Raf said softly, looking down at the ground for a moment before looking back at Ratchet. "Bee's family too."

The medic was taken aback and smiled at the boy. It seemed the children were believing the bots to be their family as well, not just how the bots were viewing Saphira. "That might be the case, wouldn't you still want to go home to see your parents and siblings?"

Raf sighed a little and grabbed out his phone. "It is nice to see them, Ratchet. But...sometimes I wish it wasn't so crowded at home. Let me show you..." He opens his phone and showed a picture of his family. "This is my family."

Ratchet kneels a little to look at the picture more closely, and Saphira smiled when she saw the picture. He nodded when he saw the picture mumbled a little. "Yes, it's very nice..." Saphira glanced at him with a curious expression, not knowing why he was muttering those words.

She chuckled at him and looked at Raf. "Very large," The boy corrects the medic, looking at the image on his phone. "Sometimes, I can shout and no one hears me." Saphira softened her expression as she heard Raf speak about what it is like in his family. She felt for him. "But Bumblebee always listens." Ratchet blinked and smiled as he realized what Raf was saying as well. "And I can understand him. I'm not sure why, but I do."

Saphira clasps her hands together and nudged Ratchet's cheek gently, pointing down for him to let her off. He nodded and dropped to one knee as Saphira slid off his shoulder and walked over to him. "Raf...I completely understand by what you mean." The boy looked at her curiously and smiled. "I...I used to feel the same way. Maybe not because of the size of my family, but rather...I felt like I was in a world where nobody could hear me. At school, sometimes the teachers didn't even know I was there, even though I had the highest grades in my class. When I lost my friends, people just sort of forgot I was there. I could raise my hand, and no one would see me. I suppose, I became used to being invisible and I liked it...until I didn't like it and wished someone could hear me."